Satan's Lies Are Extravagant - But Empty; God's Promises Are Sure

H. Wallace Goddard, PhD is such a wonderful writer!  I've enjoyed Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage and chapter 5 on purity and sexual intimacy is no exception.  Goddard uses Joseph of Israel - sharing all the annoyances, temptations, and punishments he endured for the sake of maintaining his purity - as an example of one we should follow as we face the "Zelichahs" in our day.  While Satan does sometimes take the in-your-face approach to luring God's children to sexual sin, He also sometimes opts for a more subtle but equally dangerous approach.  This approach does not involve pornographic images.  On the contrary, it appears perfectly harmless and even good!  But what lies beneath, if the victim is not careful, has the potential to destroy marriages and families.  

"Today Satan attacks us with subtle and indirect means.  He gets us inappropriately close to someone who is not our spouse under the guise of missionary work, friendship, or helpfulness.  He subtly builds inappropriate emotional bonds while quieting our consciences with weak rationalization.  Perhaps this is Satan's favorite ploy with those who desire goodness and are filled with compassion."  

Isn't it the truth that Satan often targets those he deems the strongest spiritually?  Naturally he's going to find less pleasure in seeing someone who's already hit rock bottom fall deeper into despair than someone who's lived a righteous life and now fallen victim to his tricks to the extent of putting his marriage in jeopardy.  Satan's methods are gradual and subtle, but effective.  Goddard talks about how trouble often starts very innocently, with someone extending kindness to another, helping out a neighbor, being a listening ear to a co-worker, or working closely in a calling.  You would think these are the last places Satan would strike, but really that's the whole point.  He gets us when we're least expecting it!  In Goddard's words,

"...The trouble begins as soon as a person starts to feel responsible or very close to someone who is not his or her marriage partner.  An affection is growing that claims part of the heart that belongs only to the spouse."

A while back my husband and I heard a story which at the time seemed unbelievable.  A friend of ours shared an experience he'd had just weeks prior when visiting another ward on fast Sunday.  Apparently the Relief Society president got up and bore her testimony during which she confessed over the pulpit to having an affair with the bishop.  What made this even more wacky is that the woman's husband was a counselor to the bishop.  Thankfully a member of the Stake Presidency just happened to be in the attendance and promptly closed the meeting.  While it seemed unfathomable at the time, I've come to realize that no one - not even a bishop or a Relief Society president - are exempt from Satan's influence and grasp.  

There are certainly ways to prevent such trouble from entering our lives, and Goddard lists them out.  In closing, he reminds us that "Satan's lies are extravagant - but empty.  In contrast God's promises are sure."  Embracing this simple reminder can save us a lot of hassle.  Goddard finishes with, "When we, like Joseph, quietly honor our covenants - even making sacrifices and fighting temptation - God will reward us with blessings unfathomable to those who have grabbed pleasure over principle." 

What a blessing to be God's children with the power to withstand Satan's sneakiest tactics.  As long as we are doing our part to shield ourselves from the evil that surrounds us daily, we can live happily ever after with peace in our hearts and hope for the future.